Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALIFSIB’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALIFSIB’, particularly characterized by having white flecked flowers with a small light purple center with the intensity of the flecks depending on the temperature, 1 to 2 peduncles, an inflorescence that is long and sturdy, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALIFSIB’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PHALIFSIB’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 60 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivar in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 12 to 20 cm to over 60 cm. The leavesmay be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petals, called the labellum, arethree-lobed and are often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow,and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which arisefrom the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants aredetached from the mother plants and may be planted in a suitablesubstrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALIFSIB’ is particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique white flecked flowers with a small light purplecenter, economical propagation by tissue culture, rapid growth, and aplant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

‘PHALIFSIB’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by theinventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘PHALIFSIB’ originated from a cross made inSeptember 2007 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The female parent is aPhalaenopsis pot plant named ‘01-2156’ (unpatented), while the maleparent is a Phalaenopsis pot plant named ‘01-2146’ (unpatented). Asingle plant was selected in September 2010 and has been asexuallyreproduced repeatedly by meristem tissue culture in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands over a 1.5-year period. The new variety has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexualpropagations.

Asexual reproduction of ‘PHALIFSIB’ by tissue culture was firstperformed in May 2013 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and has demonstratedthat the new cultivar is firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Sep. 29, 2014. ‘PHALIFSIB’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) White flecked flowers with a small light purple center        (intensity of flecks depends on the temperature);    -   2) 1 to 2 peduncles;    -   3) Inflorescence is long and sturdy;    -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong; and    -   5) Plants are propagated by meristem tissue culture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms andfoliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are ofa 50-week old plant grown in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlandsin July 2015.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of‘PHALIFSIB’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALIFSIB’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALIFSIB’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALIFSIB’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inBleiswijk, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 50-week oldplants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12 centimeter pots andgrown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continuedby a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks ina greenhouse of 21° C. Observations were made in July 2015. Colorreadings were taken under 4-6000 lux natural light in the greenhouse.Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (1995).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Phalaenopsis.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALIFSIB’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-2156’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-2146’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture.-   Plant:    -   -   Crop time (time to produce a finished flowering plant).—48            to 50 weeks for a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, raceme to            panicle.        -   Height (including pot, including inflorescence).—58.0 cm to            68.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—37.0 cm to 39.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Strong.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Grey-green colored roots with branching            lateral roots having green-greyed-purple colored root tips.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 8 leaves are            produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 18.0 cm            to 22.0 cm. Width: 9.5 cm to 10.5 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base            shape: Moderately to very elongated. Apex: Unequal obtuse.            Leaf blade angle with the petiole (measured from the            horizontal position): Between 20 degrees and 40 degrees.            Leaf margin: Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower            surface: RHS 146A. Texture: Rough. Thickness: 2.8 mm to            3.3 mm. Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein:            Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 146A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—9 to 14.        -   Length.—56.0 cm to 61.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—6.7 mm to 6.9 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Slightly rough.        -   Color.—Mix of brown (RHS 200B) and green (RHS 146B).        -   Internode length.—50.0 mm to 60.0 mm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, raceme to panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 200.0 mm to            230.0 mm. Diameter: 4.2 mm to 4.5 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 96.0 mm to 101.0 mm. Diameter: 107.0 mm to            112.0 mm. Depth of lip: 25.0 mm to 27.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 7 to 9 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flower bud.—Average size: Large. Length: 2.2 cm to 2.4 cm.            Width: 1.9 cm to 2.1 cm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color: Green            (RHS 145A) flecked (RHS 187A and 79A).        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:            Rounded and slightly emarginated symmetric. Margin: Slightly            undulated. Length (from base to tip): 51.0 mm to 53.0 mm.            Width: 63.0 mm to 66.0 mm. Color (when fully opened): Upper            surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C) flecked (smaller            flecks are RHS 71A and larger spots are RHS 187B) and light            purple at the base (RHS 78D). Over color: Absent. Lower            surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C) with diluted flecks            (RHS 79A and 71A) and light purple fleck at the base (RHS            81D). Over color: Absent.        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Broad elliptic. Apex: Emarginated            symmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 52.0            mm to 54.0 mm. Width: 40.0 mm to 42.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C)            flecked (smaller flecks are RHS 71A and larger spots are RHS            187B) and light purple at the base (RHS 78D). Over color:            Absent. Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C) with            diluted/blurry flecks (RHS 79A and 71A). Over color: Light            purple (RHS 69B and 69C).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Slightly asymmetric            obtuse. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 49.0 mm            to 51.0 mm. Width: 30.0 mm to 32.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C); most            of the time flecked (RHS 71A and 187B), presence and            intensity of flecks depends on the temperature. Over color:            Light green towards the center of the flower (RHS 145C).            Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS 155C) most of the            time with diluted flecks (RHS 79A and 71A) and few stripes            at the base (RHS 78D); presence and intensity of flecks            depends on the temperature. Over color: Light green towards            the center of the flower (RHS 145C) and light purple (RHS            69B to 69C).        -   Labellum (lip).—Margin: Entire. Whiskers: Present. Length of            whiskers: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm. Color of whiskers: White (RHS            155C) with yellow tips (RHS 7A). Pubescence on the lip:            Absent.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the            International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of            Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate.            Length: 21.0 mm to 23.0 mm. Width: 16.0 mm to 18.0 mm.            Color: White (RHS 155C) with yellow-green edge on one side            (RHS 9A and 151B) and small greyed-purple at the base (RHS            183B and 1863C).        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Trullate. Length: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm.            Width: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm. Color: White (RHS 155C) and            yellow-green towards the callus (RHS 1B and 9A) and brown            edge at the base (RHS 173A and 174A).        -   Callus.—Average size: Medium. Height: 0.5 cm to 0.7 cm.            Length: 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm. Width: 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm. Color:            Dark greyed-purple (RHS 187A) and brown (RHS 200B) with            white (RHS 155C) and yellow on the side (RHS 13A).-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present.        -   Column.—Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm. Diameter: 5.7 mm to            6.2 mm. Color: White (RHS 155C).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Size: 1.1 mm to 1.3 mm. Color: Orange            (RHS 24A).        -   Ovary.—Part of the pedicel with small ribs towards the            column. Length: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Diameter: 2.3 mm to 2.6            mm.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 39.0 mm to 41.0 mm. Diameter: 3.5 mm to            3.8 mm. Color: From the inflorescence greyed-purple (RHS            187A) and green (RHS 144B and 145C) to light purple (RHS            69B) towards the flower.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of 15° C. and a    high temperature of about 30° C.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

The original parent plants of ‘PHALIFSIB’ are no longer available;therefore, a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

‘PHALIFSIB’ differs from commercial variety ‘PHALCUJOX’ (unpatented) inthat ‘PHALIFSIB’ has a larger flower than ‘PHALCUJOX’. Additionally,‘PHALIFSIB’ has an emarginated apex of the dorsal sepal and a whitecolumn, whereas ‘PHALCUJOX’ has an obtuse apex of the dorsal sepal and ared-purple column.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALIFSIB’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.